Singing in Seahouses, Northumberland

Every winter, Mercury-nominated sisters Rachel and Becky Unthanks host six weekends of singing, eating and walking on the Northumberland coast. It’s unadulterated cold-weather bliss, surrounded by the striking beauty of the Farne Islands, Bamburgh Castle and the Cheviot Hills. “You don’t have to be a singer, it’s more an exercise in friendship,” says Unthanks pianist Adrian McNally. The feelgood breaks take place in a bunkhouse reclaimed from a once-derelict farm building, 10 minutes’ walk from the village of Seahouses (known for its splendid smoked kippers). Stay on site, or in modern wigwams at nearby Springhill Farm. •Two-night weekends cost £255pp in the bunkhouse or £265 in a wigwam, and include all food and activities. For details, join the mailing list at the-unthanks.com/singing-weekends

Red stag safaris, Exmoor

A red deer stag on Exmoor, North Devon. Photograph: Alamy

Red deer have roamed wild on Exmoor since pre-historic times, and the Luttrell Arms hotel, beneath Dunster Castle in the village of Dunster, is offering its winter guests Red Stag safaris. Rolling through the woodland in a 4x4, you’ll get to admire these statuesque beasts, the largest of the UK’s wild deer. You can also expect to glimpse Exmoor ponies, highland cattle and birds of prey. When you’ve had your fill of wildlife, return to the warmth of a roaring fire at the hotel, enjoy a local ale or cider, and take in the views over the secret gardens or Dunster Castle’s parkland. •Go between 1 January and 5 February for half-price room rates of £70 per night. Safaris £25-£38 per person (01643 821555, luttrellarms.co.uk)

Skiing, The Highlands

Snow has begun to dust the highest Scottish peaks – could this be another bumper year? Loch Tay Highland self-catering lodges can work as a base for the major Scottish ski resorts: Glencoe is 45 minutes’ drive away, Aviemore is two hours, and 40 miles north is Glenshee, the largest resort in the UK, with 36 runs across 40km of pistes. Keep an eye on resort websites for snowfall updates. No snow? Go hiking, cycling, fishing or sailing. Sleep in pine lodges, glamping domes, wigwams or snug woodland cabins with views of the loch. •From £40 a night for a basic wigwam (01567 820323, pitchup.com)

The gin story, Hampshire

In recent years gin has outgrown its image as mothers’ ruin. At the newly opened Bombay Sapphire gin distillery at Laverstoke Mill, which once produced banknote paper for the Bank of England, visitors can see the distillation process in action. Exotic botanicals, including cubeb berries and Indo-Chinese cassia bark, are nurtured in intertwining glasshouses designed by Heatherwick Studio, creators of the Olympic Cauldron and new London buses. Workshops and cocktail master classes are offered. In the area, visit Winchester, with its cobbled streets, grand cathedral, elegant shops and tempting tea rooms.•bombaysapphire.com. Sleep in a camping pod insulated with sheep’s wool at Two Hoots campsite near Ropley from £120 for two people for two nights (twohootscampsite.co.uk)

Migration and murmuration, Norfolk

Migrating pink-footed geese pictured at Holkham on the north Norfolk coast. Photograph: Alamy

It’s a dramatic sight: thousands of geese flying overhead, in formation. Each winter around 50,000 birds arrive in Norfolk from Iceland, Greenland and Arctic Russia, intent on doubling their body weight ahead of the long flight home. Stay at the glorious Georgian Congham Hall Hotel, where a Wildlife Watching package includes breakfast, dinner and the loan of a pair of binoculars. Colder climes are also peak time for starling murmurations, and just an hour’s drive away, RSPB reserve Strumpshaw Fen is a prime location for spotting them. •The Congham Hall Wildlife Watching Package costs £299.50pp for two nights; or doubles from £125 a night B&B, 01485 600250, conghamhallhotel.co.uk. Or stay at the Georgian Bank House, with rooms from £110 (01553 660492, thebankhouse.co.uk)

Winter lambing, Cornwall

Andrew Hawkey and his son Oliver run a cow and sheep farm in tranquil Chapel Amble, where the milder Cornish climate means the first cycle of the lambing season begins early. Five hundred of the wobbly, impossibly cute creatures will be born between November and the end of December, with a second lambing season from February until Easter – and lucky visitors can witness their first moments. Bed down in rural bliss at the Olde House in one of 30 cosy cottages. Children will love the play barn and pets’ corner, where feeding time cues a chorus of oinks and quacks. There’s a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and carvery at the Maltsters Inn, which is a three-minute walk away. •Two-bedroom cottages sleeping four people start at £240 for two nights (01208 813219, theoldehouse.co.uk)

The underground city, Nottingham

More than 500 sandstone caves lurk beneath the streets of Nottingham, making it a fascinating city – and an ideal place to shelter from winter rain. Burrow into caves once used as tanneries, bomb shelters and even homes – the area accommodated the swelling population of 19th-century Nottingham, making Narrow Marsh one of Britain’s worst slums. Refuel in the dining room grotto at the Hand & Heart or Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem – a pub built into the caves beneath Nottingham Castle, one of the oldest in England. The hollows beneath the castle date back to medieval times and were used as dungeons. •Doubles at Hart’s Hotel from £125 B&B (0115 988 1900, hartsnottingham.co.uk)

Bushcraft and foraging, Swansea

In winter, when the sun hangs low over the Gower, the beaches become more handsome than ever. Trailblazing types can discover their inner woodsman on a two-day break in the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Brave the chill to learn bushcraft skills including building a shelter, fire-lighting, coastal foraging and wilderness cooking. You needn’t sleep under the stars, though – Scamper Holidays offers cosy shepherd huts close to the Worm’s Head at Rhossili Bay; pitched in their own private paddock, at the Pitton Cross campsite, you’ll get enormous views of the coastline and pastoral greens. •Two-day bushcraft course £190pp, dryadbushcraft.co.uk. Shepherd huts from £175 for the weekend, scamperholidays.co.uk. Further information: visitswanseabay.com